Issue 34
February, 2018
Welcome to Synergy
 
We are pleased to present the thirty-fourth issue of Synergy, a monthly newsletter about the progress and processes of the Suffolk Care Collaborative (SCC).

The definition of synergy is the increased effectiveness that results when two or more entities work together. We are confident that the combined efforts of the many dedicated partners within the SCC will help the Collaborative reach its goals, leading to improved health for the residents of Suffolk County.  

About Suffolk Care Collaborative (SCC):  SCC is an alliance of healthcare providers in Suffolk County, Long Island, NY, formed to support New York State's Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) initiative. Under the guidance and leadership of Stony Brook Medicine, SCC established a Population Health Management Service Organization to improve county-wide health by addressing a wide range of challenges to health in order to improve outcomes by encouraging wellness, making healthcare more accessible and reducing costs by decreasing unnecessary hospital utilization.  For more information, visit our website:  www.suffolkcare.org.

In This Issue

Please join us for the Suffolk Care Collaborative's
Quarterly Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Meeting
Monday, March 26, 2018

Agenda:

Peggy Chan, Director, DSRIP, New York State Department of Health, will present,   Moving into DSRIP Year 4:  What Do We Need to Do? 

Project Updates will highlight best practices and successes as presented at the  2018 NYS DSRIP Learning Symposium

Overview of Value Based Payment (VBP) Program

Hyatt Regency Long Island
1717 Motor Parkway, Hauppauge, NY

Registration starts at 8:30 AM
Program 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM

SCC Participates in Suffolk County Office of Minority Health Annual Clergy Breakfast

SCC's Community Engagement (CE) team, in collaboration with Suffolk County's Office of Minority Affairs and Office of Minority Health, had the opportunity to present at the Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone's Annual Clergy Breakfast. The CE team presented a workshop entitled, The Health Crisis in Our Communities: Opportunities to Improve Health & Wellness.
Steven Bellone, Suffolk County Executive, addressing audience at the Annual Clergy Breakfast

Over 35 clergy leaders throughout Suffolk County attended the breakfast. The invitation to participate provided the SCC the opportunity to present programs that engage communities and support DSRIP initiatives. Faith communities are trusted leaders that understand the values and customs of their community, and provide strong support and resources to their parishioners. SCC's partnerships connect communities to healthcare providers and community based organizations (CBO).  These organizations provide education and outreach to community members and their families in order to raise awareness and provide opportunities to manage their health.

SCC informed the audience about various community initiatives including the Community Health Activation Program (CHAP) which works to engage and activate Medicaid beneficiaries who are non/low utilizers of healthcare, as well as uninsured individuals, to connect to primary and preventive care services. Also discussed was the Better Choices, Better Health®  workshop series which focuses on individuals with chronic illness and diabetes. These workshops are offered by several SCC partner CBOs, to promote self-management techniques to better manage their illness.

The presentation was well received and resulted in interest in future collaborations with SCC.  We look forward to working with faith communities to address the needs of their members and surrounding communities.

SCC would like to thank Steven Bellone, Suffolk County Executive, and our collaborating partners:  Reverend Roderick Pearson, Executive Director, Suffolk County Office of Minority Affairs; Dr. Gregson Pigott, Director, Suffolk County Office of Minority Health, and Adesuwa Obasohan, Health Program Analyst, Suffolk County Office of Minority Health, for their collaboration in this county-wide event.
Care Transitions Program:  Certified Interact Training Program
 
The Suffolk Care Collaborative partnered with Pathway Health to host a Certified INTERACT™ Champion (CIC) Training Program.  This program was a follow up to training conducted in 2015.   The two day training was held on January 30 and 31, 2018, led by Pathway Health expert trainer, JoEllen Hollander, RN, and helped to  re-engage and sustain the INTERACT ™ program implementation with our Skilled Nursing Facility partners.  
 
The CIC Program is designed to train clinical leaders who will serve as champions to implement and sustain the INTERACT™ Quality Improvement Program (QIP) in their organization through education, embedding the INTERACT™ QIP into routine clinical care and Quality Improvement processes, monitoring INTERACT™ QIP processes and outcomes, and providing the facility team and leadership with continuous feedback on INTERACT™ (QIP) performance.
 
The CIC training involved education for advance care planning, utilization of INTERACT tools and their significance in reducing readmission rates, as well as other early patient recognition and treatment pathways in efforts to reduce hospital transfers. JoEllen led the training with engaged group discussions and collaborative work groups utilizing INTERACT tools such as the Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR) and Stop and Watch forms. Fourteen Skilled Nursing Facility partners nominated one employee per site to serve as their facility champion to be trained .
 
If you have any further questions about this initiative, please reach out to Sara Azizi, SCC's Care Transitions Program Coordinator at
sara.azizi@stonybrookmedicine.edu. 
SCC Hosts First  Cultural Competency & Health Literacy Training of the Year
 
SCC's Community Engagement Team hosted their first Cultural Competency and Health Literacy (CCHL) Train-the-Trainer class of 2018. The CCHL Training Program is provided in partnership with Nassau-Queens Performing Provider System (NQP), Long Island Health Collaborative (LIHC) and curriculum creator Dr. Martine Hackett, an Assistant Professor at Hofstra University, to advance cultural and linguistic competency, promote effective communication to eliminate health disparities and enhance patient outcomes through a number of training concepts.   These concepts include health equity data analysis, unconscious bias, social determinants of health, cultural competency, cultural humility, the National Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services Standards, health literacy barriers, and the "Teach-Back" method. The full day training held on January 23, 2018, included 11 provider partners (pictured below) from diverse backgrounds such as health care, community based organizations, department of corrections, and the public sector serving Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.  At the conclusion of the interactive CCHL Train-the-Trainer class, the partners received certificates of completion and resource toolkit preparing them to recreate the CCHL Training Program. Congratulations to the new CCHL Master Trainers!

For future 2018 Train-the-Trainer class dates, please explore the CCHL landing page hosted on LIHC's website.

Back row (left to right): Adesuwa Obasohan, Suffolk County Dept. of Health Services; Janet Pepper, Long Island Select Healthcare Inc.; Sandra Hopkins-Ouedraogo, Association for Mental Health and Wellness; K.S., Community Housing Innovations; Lindsay Fudim, Long Island Select Healthcare Inc.; A.G., Suffolk County Office for the Aging; Colleen McKenna, Sheriff's Office, Suffolk County.   Front row (left to right): Bill DeJoy, Conifer Park; Lynette Garcia, Association for Habilitation and Residential Care, Suffolk; Doriann Adams, AHRC Suffolk; Carrie Scomillio, Transitional Services of NY for LI, Inc. & Haven House/Bridges, Inc.
 
To learn more about the CCHL Training Program and how your organization can participate, please contact our Community Engagement Team at CommunityEngagement@stonybrookmedicine.edu .
HITE Suffolk County Advisory Group Meeting

SCC, Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) and the  Health Information Tool for Empowerment (HITE) Team held their second HITE Suffolk County Advisory Group Meeting on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.  Developed by GNYHA, HITE is a free online resource directory that features over 5,000 health and social service resources in New York City's five boroughs as well as Nassau and Suffolk Counties. HITE is utilized by community members, hospitals, health centers, schools, not-for-profit organizations, managed care organizations, public agencies and other providers working to help their clients find and access needed services.

The Advisory Group brings together a small group of HITE users to discuss the tool's features, content and usability, as well as provide the HITE Team with insight and feedback which assist in continued improvements to the website. Through the support of SCC's Community Engagement Team, eight Suffolk County partners participated in the discussion led by Meagan McKeon, HITE Program Manager, Taylor Cox, HITE Program Coordinator, and Nicole Canchucaja, HITE Program Associate. A few discussion highlights included enhancing the Tools menu, expanding Suffolk County resources, utilizing the myHITE feature and opportunities to expand HITE outreach. The HITE Team appreciated the engaging dialogue and plans to incorporate the feedback shared in upcoming HITE improvements.
 
HITE is available on the SCC Community Engagement Webpage . To arrange a HITE demonstration for your colleagues or at community meetings or events, please contact Meagan at MMcKeon@gnyha.org or our Community Engagement Team at  CommunityEngagement@stonybrookmedicine.edu .
 
 
From left to right: Oscar Bruce, ASK for Your Life; Judith Montauban, Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island; Magali Roman, Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc.; Stephanie Burke, Suffolk Care Collaborative; Lareicha Hunter, Suffolk Care Collaborative; Taylor Cox, HITE; Meagan McKeon, HITE; Keiko Cervantes-Ospina, Community Legal Advocates of New York Inc.; Nicole Canchucaja, HITE
Supporting Tobacco Free Campus Initiative 

As part of the Tobacco Free Campus Initiative, the Suffolk Care Collaborative has partnered with the Tobacco Action Coalition of Long Island and the Center for Tobacco Control to provide Behavioral Health Organizations with the technical support and materials they need to transition to Tobacco Free Campuses. The Tobacco Action Coalition of LI was able to provide Beacon Family Wellness Center, a participating organization in the initiative, with a personalized Tobacco (and Smoke) Free Facility sign. The sign includes the organization's logo and is proudly displayed outside the main entrance.  We are looking forward to expanding this initiative to other Behavioral Health Organizations in Suffolk County.  For more information about the Tobacco Free Campus Initiative, please contact Alexandra Kranidis, MPH, CPH, CHES, Project Manager, at A lexandra.Kranidis1@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
Partner Interview:  Tobacco Initiative Targeting Youth Community
Name:   Judith Montauban
Title:  Reality Check Manager
Organization:  Tobacco Action Coalition of LI (American Lung Association)

Please give us a summary of your organization:
Reality Check LI (RCLI) is the youth component of the Tobacco Action Coalition of LI (TAC). TAC is one of 25 Advancing Tobacco-Free Communities, grant funded by the NYS DOH's Bureau of Tobacco Control. The American Lung Association administers the grant that funds RCLI.  
 
Reality Check is a statewide youth-led initiative that focuses on educating and empowering youth to address the tobacco industry and their deceptive marketing practices.  Reality Check LI provides opportunities for youth to gain skills in leadership, team building, media training and public speaking.
 
Who does your organization serve?
Reality Check LI serves youth in Suffolk and Nassau counties. This year RCLI has been working with youth in Hempstead and Brentwood. Currently there is an active group at the North Middle School in Brentwood.
 
Why did you choose to participate as a partner of the SCC?
Reality Check LI partnered with the SCC because we have identified a shared goal to improve community health and to reduce health disparities.  By raising awareness about the impact tobacco marketing practices have on communities, RCLI hopes to encourage youth to remain tobacco-free and realize that their voice matters.
 
On which DSRIP project(s) are you working?
Reality Check LI is not directly working on DSRIP projects.  However, RC LI is a member of the Tobacco Cessation Coalition and works closely with the SCC's Community Engagement team.  
 
How do you see this project making an impact on our communities and population we serve?
Our collaboration will demonstrate the importance of including the youth voice in conversations about improving community health.  Reality Check LI believes the youth perspective and voice is important in creating sustainable change in our communities.
 
What do you hope the DSRIP program will accomplish in general?
Our hope is that together we can continue to work towards the goal of reducing youth initiation to tobacco use. Doing so will improve the overall health of the community. RCLI also hopes to raise awareness about tobacco industry marketing practices in various communities.
Compliance Connection
Final Rule on Sharing Substance Use Disorder Information

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) has issued a final rule revising regulations that govern the confidentiality of substance use disorder (SUD) patient records (42 CFR Part 2).  This final rule became effective February 2, 2018.  According to SAMHSA, ch anges to the rule are intended to better align the regulations with advances in the U.S. health care delivery system while retaining important privacy protections for individuals seeking treatment for substance use disorders. This final rule addresses the prohibition on re-disclosure notice by including an option for an abbreviated notice. This final rule also addresses the circumstances under which lawful holders and their legal representatives, contractors and subcontractors may use and disclose patient identifying information for purposes of payment, health care operations, and audits and evaluations  This final rule DOES NOT permit lawful holders of this information to re-disclose Part 2 information (without patient consent) for purposes related to patient treatment, diagnosis or referral for treatment, including care coordination or case management.

You can read the entire Final Rule here or visit the SAMHSA website for more information.   For compliance questions, or assistance, contact the SCC Compliance Office at SCC-Compliance@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
 Milestone Dates
 NYS DOH DSRIP Program Milestone Dates
 
March 3
Independent Assessor provides feedback on PPS Year 3 Third Quarterly Reports; 15-day Remediation window begins
March 17 Revised PPS Year 3 Third Quarterly Reports due from PPS; 15-day Remediation window closes
March 31
Final Approval of PPS Year 3 Third Quarterly Reports

Frequently Asked Questions

 

To access NYS DSRIP FAQ, click  here.
Access previously published Synergy eNewsletters  here
Job woman showing hiring sign. Young smiling Caucasian   Asian businesswoman isolated on white background.
Office of Population Health
Career Opportunities
The SCC is pleased to invite qualified career seekers to apply for open positions. All job descriptions for current opportunities are posted here.

Current Job Opportunities:
  1. Care Manager
  2. Community Health Associate
  For more information, please contact the Suffolk Care Collaborative via email